Mikio Aoki, a key member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's most powerful faction and the chief Cabinet secretary to two prime ministers, said his faction will support Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori until the Upper House election next summer.
In an interview with The Japan Times, Aoki -- also secretary general of the LDP's Upper House members -- said the faction, founded by his mentor, the late Noboru Takeshita, and currently led by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, will "give its full support to the Mori administration."
There is lingering concern within the LDP that it will suffer another setback in the election unless it replaces Mori, whose popular support remains low in media polls.